24 THE SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION. 



* 

 Professor Baird has prepared a revision, or posting up, of our knowledge of 



North Auierican ornithology to the present date, with the addition of the species 

 of Central and South America and the West Indies. The materials being derived 

 almost entirely from the specimens collected by the Institution, have been increased 

 eince the publication of the extensive work on the same subject, by Professor 

 Baird, in the Pacific Railroad report, from 12,000 to 35,000. 



The collections which have been made by the Institution for the illustration of 

 mammalia have been very extensive, amounting to 10,000 specimens, and have not 

 only included many duplicates of every species previously known, but a very large 

 number entirely new to science. A catalogue of North American mammals, 

 chiefly those collected by the Institution, prepared by Professor Baird, has been 

 published and distributed to those interested in the study; also a monograph of 

 North American bats, prepared by Dr. H. Allen. Materials are now in course of 

 accumulation to complete the account of the classes of mammals of North Ame- 

 rica, which have not been included in the publications of the Institution and 

 Pacific Railroad Reports. 



As with all American vertebrata, the collections of reptiles and fishes have been 

 very extensive, and numerous monographs or articles have been published relative 

 to them in the Pacific Railroad Reports, and the proceedings of different natural 

 history societies, the Institution having published a synopsis of the serpents of 

 North America, and a monograph of the cottoids. 



The Institution has materially aided the study of the entomology of this country, 

 not only by the collections in that branch, but by preparing and publishing a series 

 of works for the purpose of exhibiting the state of knowledge on the subject, and 

 facilitating its further advancement. It has published and distributed the follow- 

 ing under this head : — 



Instructions for collecting and preserving insects, and catalogues, synopses, or 

 monographs of the Diptera, Coleoptera, Lepidoptera, and Neuroptera, prepared by 

 the most competent authorities in Europe and America. 



It has also in course of preparation, works relative to the Hymenoptera, IIo- 

 moptera, Ilcmiptera, Orthoptera, &c. 



Conclwhgy . — A large collection of specimens of shells was received from the 

 United States exploring expedition, which has been much increased by subsequent 

 additions. All the shells of the west coast of the United States, and those gene- 

 rally collected by the exploring expedition, were put into the hands of Mr. P. P. 

 Carpenter, of England, the new ones described for publication, and the duplicates 

 of the whole arranged for distribution to museums, colleges, and other establish- 

 ments. The publications on this subject are. Lists of North American Shells, 

 Circulars Relative to Collecting, an Elementary Introduction to the Study of 

 Conchology, and an extensive work, in two octavo volumes, on the l?ibliography 

 of North American Conchology, by W. G. Binney, and a Monograph of the Cor 

 biculidae, by Temple Prime. Besides these, a number of articles are in the press 

 or in course of preparation. 



